Sentencing Phase

At the sentencing hearing the Assistant State’s Attorney will argue for an appropriate sentence and may introduce evidence of past criminal involvement. Depending on the crime, the Assistant State’s Attorney may also ask a victim to read a Victim Impact Statement detailing how this crime affected the individual. The defense will argue for what they believe is an appropriate sentence and may introduce evidence into mitigation. After these arguments are complete, the judge imposes the sentence he or she feels is just.